Toaster



Feb. 7, 1939-.

o. G'. BURCH 2,146,172

TOASTER "Filed Jan. '6, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. opswl 5502c ATTORNEY.

Feb; 7, 1939.

O. G. BURCH TOASTER Filed Jan. 6, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

BY 9 g,

ATTORNEY;

Patented Feb. 7, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

' This invention relates to bread toasters of the type particularly suitable for use over an open flame and has for its object to provide an improved device of neat appearance and sturdy construction which will transfer heat uniformly over the surface of a piece of bread therein.

Another object is to provide a toaster comprising parallel surfaces for direct contact with a slice of bread whereby the toasting is accomplished by conduction and to so form and arrange the surfaces that the products of combustion from the heating flame will heat the two surfaces uni-' formly.

A further object is to provide a toaster which, when removed from above a flame, will act as an oven to maintain one or several pieces of toast warm for a substantial period of time awaiting eating.

More specifically, it is an object to provide two parallel plate surfaces for direct contact with a slice of bread, the surfaces being hinged together in such manner that they will accommodate slices of any thickness and likewise a sandwich.

Other objects and advantages will become hereinafter more fully apparent as reference is had to the accompanying drawings wherein my invention is illustrated and in which:-

Fig. 1 is a plan view of my improved toaster, partially broken away for illustrative purposes,

Fig. 2 is a perspective view in open position,

Fig. 3 is a side elevation with the top elevated of the hinge end,

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken along the line 44 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

I indicates the bottom section and 2 the top section of a bread toaster. The bottom section I is conveniently made rectangular in cross-section with four vertical walls 3, 4, 5, 6, the end walls 3, 4 of which are of less height than the side walls. Bridging the end walls is a flame contacting surface I, the top surface of which is covered with an insulating material Ia. The sides of the support are substantially spaced from the side walls 5 and 6 thereby providing two passageways 8 for prod- I ucts of combustion.

combustion finding their way out the passages 8. Any other heat source may be used.

Extending upwardly from the side edges of the shelf I are vertical walls I3 of substantially equal length with the side walls 5 and 6 and forming therewith two oval-shaped flues I4 as a continuation of the spaces 8.

The upper section 2 comprises an outer shell having a rectangular top portion I5 with depending side walls I6, II, I8, I9 and an inner multipart shell. The inner shell is made up of two side walls 20 and 2| of substantially equal length with the walls I8 and I9 and forming therewith oval shaped flues which telescope with the walls of the flues I4, and a multiplicity of walled passages 22 made of strips of L-cross section secured together to form a bread contacting surface 23. The passages 22 are open to the fiues so that the products of combustion converge at the stack 24 which encompasses an elongated slot in the top I5. Between the top of the strips forming the passages 22 and the top I5 is an insulating pad 25.

The bottom section I has a slotted hinge member 26 secured thereto at opposite sides and the top section 2 has two hinge members 2'! for en gagement with the members 26, the slots of the members 26 permitting relative vertical adjustment of the two surfaces I0 and 23 to accommodate any thickness of bread slice. For a thinner slice the surfaces I0 and 23 are closer together and there is corresponding of the flues of the lower section I with those of the upper section. A handle 28 is provided for elevation of the upper section. A stop 29 is also provided to retain the top in upright position.

By lifting the top vertically from the position illustrated in Fig. 3 the stop 29 may be disengaged and the top section may be rotated to a position parallel with the lower section.

Reference is made to my copending application, Serial No. 205,066, wherein the subject matter is broadly claimed.

What I claim is:

A bread toaster comprising opposed substantially horizontal vertically spaced surfaces for direct contact with a slice of bread, the lower one of said surfaces having sidewalls depending therefrom for the support thereof above an open flame, said lower surface having a flue extending upwardly therefrom for the products of combustion from said flame, the upper one of said surfaces having a flue to receive the products of combustion from the flue of the lower surface, said upper surface comprising a series of joined L-shaped members with the bases coplanar and the upright branches thereof comprising fins to collect heat from the products of combustion passing through said flues.

ORSON G. BURCH.

greater telescoping 

